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Implant Allegations Go To A Grand Jury

February 28, 1993

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IMPLANT ALLEGATIONS GO TO A GRAND JURY

A federal grand jury in Baltimore is investigating whether Dow Corning told patients and physicians that silicone breast implants were safe despite having data suggesting that they caused health problems. The Justice Dept. initiated the inquiry at the request of the Food & Drug Administration, which has been conducting its own probe of Dow Corning. On Feb. 8, the company received a subpoena requesting hundreds of thousands of documents relating to the implants. Company officials maintain the devices are safe.

Dow Corning faces more than 3,500 lawsuits from women with implants. It has stopped making the devices and is phasing out production of the gel it sells to other implant makers.EDITED BY HARRIS COLLINGWOOD